The Harbor Entrepreneur Center (HEC) today announced it has received a generous grant from Truist Foundation to expand the reach and impact of the Harbor Accelerator, the organization’s flagship program for early-stage founders in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties. The grant will support increased cohort capacity, expanded technical assistance, a stronger mentor network and enhanced outreach to underserved entrepreneurs across the region.
“For 13 years, the Harbor Accelerator has been built by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs, and this support from Truist Foundation allows us to do even more of what works,” said Grady Johnson, Executive Director of The Harbor Entrepreneur Center. “We see talented founders every day who have the drive and the idea but need structured guidance, mentorship and connection to keep moving forward. This investment helps us meet that need at a larger scale and put real resources behind the people building the future of our small business economy.”
With this support, HEC will grow Harbor Accelerator cohort capacity, deliver deeper technical assistance in product-market fit, sales strategy and capital readiness, expand its volunteer mentor network of experienced founders, and broaden outreach to reach more diverse and under-resourced entrepreneurs. The expanded program builds on HEC’s recently enlarged facility in Mount Pleasant, which added dedicated office, mentoring and collaboration space designed to foster the kind of founder-to-founder collisions that define HEC’s mission.
Over the past decade, HEC has supported more than 200 companies, and its alumni have secured more than $7 million in private-sector investment. The Truist Foundation grant will allow HEC to serve more founders each year, with success measured through increased cohort participation, the number of small businesses supported, mentor hours delivered, and long-term business outcomes tracked through the organization’s alumni network.
“At Truist, our purpose is to inspire and build better lives and communities, and supporting organizations like The Harbor Entrepreneur Center is one of the ways we put that purpose into action,” said Mark Lattanzio, Truist Coastal Market President. “The Harbor Entrepreneur Center is creating meaningful opportunities for entrepreneurs across the Lowcountry, and we’re proud to support its efforts to expand access, mentorship and resources for the small business owners and founders helping this region grow and thrive.”